Lynn Trenbeath

Lynn “Cookie” Varner Trenbeath 1941 ~ 2011 Lynn died peacefully in her home with her two kids by her side on October 21, after a long, courageous bout with breast cancer. She lived with it so well and for so long, that it barely seemed to interfere with her full life. She spent her last day surrounded by family and friends and her last words were how much she loved her grandsons. She was born Clara Lynn Varner on November 13, 1941 to Jim and Evelyn Varner in the coal mining town of Columbia, Utah. She grew up adoring her older brother VeLoy, and insisted on keeping up with him on their adventures to Range Creek and Scout Hill. She graduated from Carbon High School and Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics. She took a teaching job at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden, Utah. Soon after, she met her future husband, Wayne Trenbeath, who loved the outdoors and who was “so handsome he swept her off her feet.” They were married July 18, 1964. They raised two kids, Eric and Erin, and as a family they enjoyed many outings together boating, skiing, camping and traveling the country. Lynn influenced her children greatly with her love and patience and by encouraging them to be whoever they wanted. Lynn excelled in her career, springing from her beginnings as a home economics teacher to eventually becoming the Assistant Superintendent of Davis County School District. She went back to school in midlife and earned a Master of Science in Education from the University of Utah, and an Administrative and Supervisory Credential from Utah State University. During her career she also managed a group home for teenage girls, taught courses at the University of Utah, and the Utah School for the Deaf. She also served as Director of Nutrition Services and as the Supervisor of Home Economics for Davis County. She was a dedicated women’s and children’s advocate supporting the YWCA and Head Start. She served on numerous boards including the Cancer Wellness House and received many awards for outstanding leadership. In both her professional and personal life she was an inspiration to all who knew her, and she left anyone she met with the profound feeling that they had made a new friend. She was a generous woman of incredible strength and perseverance. She was a devoted wife and mother, and she never stopped talking about how proud she was of her children. Her greatest joy in later years became her grandsons, Jackson and Harrison, and she loved having them over to Ya-Ya’s house after school to do their homework and jump on the trampoline. She lived full in the face of her long illness, and when it began to greatly interfere with her life, she was gone. She did always say, “A lady always knows when to leave a party.” Lynn was preceded in death by her husband and parents. She is survived by her brother VeLoy Varner (Carol), son Eric, daughter Erin Trenbeath -Murray (Jeff), and grandsons Jackson and Harrison. A funeral service will be held Thursday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m. at Capitol Church 1010 East 700 South, Salt Lake City. Please sign her online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Cancer Wellness House.